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Vice Provost, Dean of University Libraries

Vice Provost, Dean of University Libraries

University of Rochester Job Location: New York Apply By: 07/26/2021 Date Created: 07-13-2021

The University of Rochester seeks a visionary and collaborative Vice Provost and Andrew H. & Janet Dayton Neilly Dean of University of Rochester Libraries.

As one of the country’s leading private research institutions and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Rochester libraries play an essential role in the academic and cultural life of the school. We seek a leader with an ambitious strategic vision to support faculty and student research, maintain our international and global reach, and assist the broader community, including local non-profits and the Rochester City Schools. The dean has oversight for the policies and enterprise systems for the UR Libraries, including the Miner Medical Libraries (UR Medical Center), the River Campus Libraries (RCL), the Sibley Music Library (Eastman School of Music) and the Charlotte Whitney Allen Library (Memorial Art Gallery). The dean also represents the UR Libraries with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) with which the libraries are extremely active. For the River Campus, the dean has administrative responsibility for all library divisions, which includes oversight of approximately $20M in operations, collections, grant and gift funding, and stewardship of $18.9M in endowments. The incumbent will be a principal fundraiser for the Libraries as the University launches its next capital campaign. The current organizational structure includes three associate/assistant deans, with approximately 107 staff in 17 departments.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1850, the University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading research universities and is the cultural, artistic, and educational leader for the region. The university’s motto, Meliora, embodies the goals of the University, which are to “learn, discover, heal, create – and make the world even better.” Embedded in the ideal of Meliora are the shared values of the University community: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. The University is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is regularly ranked in the top 35 national universities by U.S. News and World Report. The University enrolls nearly 12,000 undergraduate and graduate/professional students, both domestic and international, and employs more than 3,000 faculty and 30,000 staff. It offers over 200 academic programs organized into the following schools:

The institution’s integrated University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one of the nation’s leaders in professional education, biomedical research, and clinical care. It forms the centerpiece of the University’s health research, teaching, and patient care missions and includes Strong Memorial Hospital, the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, Golisano Children’s Hospital, and affiliated healthcare systems in the region comprising five additional hospitals and numerous clinical locations as well as long-term care facilities. The University also encompasses: the Memorial Art Gallery, which houses a permanent collection of paintings by American and European masters, as well as sculpture and decorative arts, and offers a variety of classes for adults and children in the community; and the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, an internationally renowned science and technology center conducting research in physics, fusion, optics, high-energy-density phenomena, and other fields. The University expends $350 million annually for research, denoting the high value placed on scholarship at the institution. With over 60 research centers and institutes, the University allows students, faculty, and research staff to pursue their academic goals in an environment that empowers and supports their efforts.

RIVER CAMPUS LIBRARIES

The River Campus Libraries provide access to over 3 million books in both print and electronic formats and over 40,000 journals. Its extensive collections, which support research and learning, include databases, datasets, streaming video, rare materials and other media. Digital collections can be accessed from anywhere via the Libraries’ website, and dynamic physical collections are available to students, faculty, and members of the Rochester community. The total study space seating capacity is 2,463. In addition to ARL membership, the Libraries are active members of the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), the Coalition for Networked Information, Eastern Academic Scholars’ Trust, HathiTrust, Northeastern Regional Libraries, and the Rochester Regional Library Council. Rush Rhees Library provides collections, programs and services in support of academic departments in the humanities and social sciences. It was designed to serve as a centerpiece of the River Campus when it was dedicated in 1930. Rush Rhees is primarily home to a number of special libraries and collections, including the Art/Music Library, The Barbara J. Burger iZone, Gleason Library, Rare Books & Special Collections, the Rossell Hope Robbins Library, which specializes in medieval studies, and the University Archives.

The dome of Rush Rhees is the most well-known and featured icon of the University, and a trip to its tower gives an unforgettable vista of the campus and a magnificent view of the city. Anchoring the west side of campus, in the computer science building, is Carlson Science & Engineering Library. Collections and services in support of physics, optics, and astronomy are located in a physically separate library near the center of campus. The Carlson Library is a home to Studio X, a hub for extended reality that fosters a cross-disciplinary community, exploration, and peer-to-peer learning that lowers barriers to entry, inspires experimentation, and drives innovative research and teaching in immersive technologies.

The Libraries have earned a reputation for innovative, user-focused programs and services undergirded by a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and its vision. With its unique and diverse expertise, collections and spaces, the River Campus Libraries provides transformational experiences for students and faculty to achieve their scholarly aspirations including: extending access to collections, enabling spaces, enriching education, enhancing research, and engaging community. The new Dean should be amenable to exploring new opportunities in scholarly communications and publishing and stay atop the fast-moving field of library science with a focus on how they can optimally benefit the libraries and the broader University community. Recent innovative initiatives include The Barbara J. Burger iZone, a creative problem-solving program and space designed to empower students to explore and imagine ideas for social, cultural, community, and economic impact. Evans Lam Square, a dynamic re-envisioning of the main service area in Rush Rhees, and Studio X

The libraries support and add value to the mission of the University. In addition to a range of core services and collections, the libraries provide leadership in sustainable scholarship, contribute to the impact of the University’s scholarship, provide support for a range of research services, and advance open educational resources and practices to increase the accessibility of higher education. The quality and quantity of activity within the Libraries leaves no doubt that the Libraries reside at both the physical and academic heart of the university.

ROCHESTER AND THE FINGER LAKES REGION

Rochester and the Finger Lakes Region, our community, is a wonderful place to work and live. The area features a wide range of affordable housing options, and two of the Top 20 public school systems in New York State. There are endless cultural opportunities, including concerts at the world-renowned Eastman School of Music and with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Local museums include the University’s own Memorial Art Gallery, the George Eastman Museum, the Strong Museum of Play (home to the National Toy Hall of Fame), and the Rochester Museum of Science. Geva Theatre Center, a nationally recognized regional theater, and the Rochester Broadway Theatre League provide varied seasons of plays and musicals. A vibrant and varied local restaurant and food scene offers many cuisines to explore and enjoy, and the Rochester Public Market offers year-round fresh local produce and other grocery items. Rochester is also home to Wegmans, the grocery store chain that has developed a national following. Lake Ontario lies to the north of the city, and to the south, the Finger Lakes Region offers numerous parks, lakes, and trails, with opportunities for running, biking, hiking, and water sports. The Finger Lakes are also nationally known for viniculture and excellent independent wineries. 

NOTE: The University of Rochester has exclusively engaged Jack Farrell & Associates (www.jackfarrell.com) to find the next Vice Provost, Dean of Libraries. Interested candidates should provide a CV by email to Jack Farrell (jack@jackfarrell.com). Thank you.

The University of Rochester values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for persons regardless of age, color, disability, domestic violence status, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation or any other status protected by law. Further, the University complies with all applicable non- discrimination laws in the administration of its policies, admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs and activities.

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